A couple weeks ago we talked about the struggles we face in this world, struggles that are not caused by God, but struggles He allows to happen, yet struggles through which He always works out the best for us, especially in drawing us to Him. We had a great example of this happening just this past week with the rescue of the thirty-three miners in Chile. As each miner was rescued he praised God for his rescue. What will be interesting to see is if they have truly had a change of heart. Remember, a change of behavior will only last a while if there was not true change of heart. This morning in our Gospel reading Jesus encourages us, especially in times of struggles, to pray, to keep on praying, to pray without ceasing. In the Epistle lesson, Paul encourages Timothy and us today concerning our struggles and how we are to turn to the Lord, especially through His Word in times of struggle. Paul’s words are quite contemporary as we see in our world today that the time has come “when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (v. 3-4). And how do we meet the challenge of the struggles of this world? By “continu[ing] in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (v. 14-15). And he encourages also through the Word to “be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (v. 2).
With that said, concerning our own struggles, let us look at Jacob’s life and his struggles. Remember, Jacob was born second after his twin brother Esau and was given the name Jacob because he was grabbing the knee of his brother at birth. The name Jacob means “knee grabber,” and the other meaning of his name, “he supplants” was an indication of what would happen later in his life, that of supplanting or taking his brother’s place.
Jacob’s twin brother, Esau was born first and so he owned the birthright, and the right of the firstborn which meant that he would receive a double inheritance at the death of his father. This inheritance Esau bartered away to Jacob with a bowl of stew. Later, because both Jacob and Rebekah knew that Jacob was the child chosen through whom the line of the promised Messiah would come, and not trusting and waiting on the Lord, they rushed in to take the blessing of the right of the first born as well and this right they acquired through deception.
Because of what Jacob and Rebekah did, because of the threat from Esau on Jacob’s life, he left town in fear. Jacob went to live with Rebekah’s brother, his uncle, Laban. While he was there he worked for and earned two wives, as well as accumulated sons, camels, sheep, cattle, and much more. More than twenty years have past and now Jacob is returning to town, but instead of returning in poverty, he is now returning in wealth. The Lord had richly blessed him and it is time to return to his homeland.
As we move to our text, Jacob is preparing to meet his brother. Because of his fear of his brother, who, the last time they saw each other, was breathing threats of murder, Jacob believed his brother still was out to murder him and so he was taking no chance of having his entire family murdered. Interestingly enough, I guess he had forgotten God’s promise of blessing, and how could God bless him if he was not alive. Anyway, he separated his family and sent gifts to Esau to appease him, verse twenty-two, “22The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had” (v. 22-23). His idea was if one group was caught, the rest might still escape.
After he separated himself the Lord appeared to him, verse twenty-four, “24And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him” (v. 24-25). How can it be that Jacob, a mere man, wrestled with God and prevailed? Our only answer to that question is because God allowed it to happen. God allowed it so He might bless Him.
Picking up at verse twenty-six,“26Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered” (v. 26-30). The Lord, the pre-incarnate Jesus, wrestled with Jacob, allowed him to win and then blessed him and restated His covenant with him.
What does this mean? The First Commandment tells us that “we should have no other God’s before us.” Luther explains this to mean that “we should fear, love and trust in God above all things.” In our text we see that Jacob trusted in himself more than he trusted in God, which is idolatry. When we look at our own lives, how often it is that we trust in ourselves instead of trusting in the Lord. We may not be blatant, coarse idolaters, worshiping stone or wooden statues, but we do have a propensity to being more subtle idolaters, fine or refined idolaters, placing our trust in other things instead of worshiping the one true God. We tend to put our faith in ourselves, in our abilities to earn for ourselves, in our abilities to reason for ourselves. We tend to think that we are self made people and that we have earned our own rights and our own way in this world. We truly have a great tendency to trust in ourselves rather than to trust in the Lord.
I would encourage you to take some time to look at your life, with sober judgement as Paul reminds us. Where and how do you use your time, your talents and your treasure? If you truly want to know what is important in your life, look at your life. Do not simply think that by saying your faith life is most important, that it is. The devil has done a great job deceiving us and convincing us of things that are not necessarily true. The devil would have us say that our faith life is most important, then he distracts us into so many other things that we have little or no time for our faith life, but since we have said our faith life is most important, then we rationalize that it is. Again, if you want to know what is most important in your life take the time to recognize where you spend your time, how and for what you use your gifts, talents and abilities and where you spend you treasure, then you will know for sure, what is most important to you.
As Paul encouraged Timothy to stand firm in the faith so I would encourage you to stand firm in your faith. Doctrine is important. What we believe, teach and confess is important. It is the Word of God and the Word of God alone which is able to make us wise for salvation. We are living in a day when people are running after those people who will tell them what they want to hear and we can always find someone who will tell us what we want to hear. You know I cannot simply tell you what you want to hear, but I have been called by God, through you to tell you what God knows you need to hear. And what God wants you to hear is the encouragement to be in the Word, to believe the Word, to make regular and diligent use of the Word which alone is able to make you wise to salvation.
In our Gospel reading, Jesus, through the parable of the widow, encourages us to pray without losing heart. If there is nothing else we might think we can do, it is that we can pray. No one can every stop you from praying, because even if you are not praying out loud, you can always pray in your heart and mind. Jesus encourages us to pray to Him and know that He is indeed just and righteous and he will hear and answer our prayers and we can be sure that His answer will be according to what He knows is best for us.
This morning we have Jacob’s example. Just as Jacob was imperfect, so we are imperfect. Just as Jacob often sinned and placed himself and his faith in himself before God, so we are imperfect and we often have more faith in ourselves than in the Lord. And just as Jacob struggled with the Lord, we struggle with the Lord. Through his struggling with the Lord, the Lord strengthened Jacob for the trials that lay ahead of him. So likewise, as we struggle with the Lord, He strengthens us through our struggles to help us to face the struggles that lay ahead in our own lives. And we have God’s continuing promise that He is with us always, even to the end of the age.
What a great God we have. What a loving God we have. God loves us so much. God created us to love us. God redeemed us because of His love for us, bringing us back into a right relationship with Himself. God gave us life at our conception. God has given us new life through the waters of Holy Baptism. God gives us forgiveness of sins through confession and absolution. God strengthens and keeps us in faith through His Word and His Holy Supper. Although we may suffer from the struggles, the trials and tribulations of this world, God loves us and works out the best for us in any and all circumstances, because of His great love for us.
God loves us so much. God loves you so much. God’s desire is for us that we cling to Him, that we pray to Him, that we trust in Him above all things, including ourselves. God’s desire is that we fear, love and trust in Him above all things so that through our struggles we might be drawn closer to Him and strengthened in our faith. May the Lord so work in your life that you do say, to God be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
With that said, concerning our own struggles, let us look at Jacob’s life and his struggles. Remember, Jacob was born second after his twin brother Esau and was given the name Jacob because he was grabbing the knee of his brother at birth. The name Jacob means “knee grabber,” and the other meaning of his name, “he supplants” was an indication of what would happen later in his life, that of supplanting or taking his brother’s place.
Jacob’s twin brother, Esau was born first and so he owned the birthright, and the right of the firstborn which meant that he would receive a double inheritance at the death of his father. This inheritance Esau bartered away to Jacob with a bowl of stew. Later, because both Jacob and Rebekah knew that Jacob was the child chosen through whom the line of the promised Messiah would come, and not trusting and waiting on the Lord, they rushed in to take the blessing of the right of the first born as well and this right they acquired through deception.
Because of what Jacob and Rebekah did, because of the threat from Esau on Jacob’s life, he left town in fear. Jacob went to live with Rebekah’s brother, his uncle, Laban. While he was there he worked for and earned two wives, as well as accumulated sons, camels, sheep, cattle, and much more. More than twenty years have past and now Jacob is returning to town, but instead of returning in poverty, he is now returning in wealth. The Lord had richly blessed him and it is time to return to his homeland.
As we move to our text, Jacob is preparing to meet his brother. Because of his fear of his brother, who, the last time they saw each other, was breathing threats of murder, Jacob believed his brother still was out to murder him and so he was taking no chance of having his entire family murdered. Interestingly enough, I guess he had forgotten God’s promise of blessing, and how could God bless him if he was not alive. Anyway, he separated his family and sent gifts to Esau to appease him, verse twenty-two, “22The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had” (v. 22-23). His idea was if one group was caught, the rest might still escape.
After he separated himself the Lord appeared to him, verse twenty-four, “24And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him” (v. 24-25). How can it be that Jacob, a mere man, wrestled with God and prevailed? Our only answer to that question is because God allowed it to happen. God allowed it so He might bless Him.
Picking up at verse twenty-six,“26Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered” (v. 26-30). The Lord, the pre-incarnate Jesus, wrestled with Jacob, allowed him to win and then blessed him and restated His covenant with him.
What does this mean? The First Commandment tells us that “we should have no other God’s before us.” Luther explains this to mean that “we should fear, love and trust in God above all things.” In our text we see that Jacob trusted in himself more than he trusted in God, which is idolatry. When we look at our own lives, how often it is that we trust in ourselves instead of trusting in the Lord. We may not be blatant, coarse idolaters, worshiping stone or wooden statues, but we do have a propensity to being more subtle idolaters, fine or refined idolaters, placing our trust in other things instead of worshiping the one true God. We tend to put our faith in ourselves, in our abilities to earn for ourselves, in our abilities to reason for ourselves. We tend to think that we are self made people and that we have earned our own rights and our own way in this world. We truly have a great tendency to trust in ourselves rather than to trust in the Lord.
I would encourage you to take some time to look at your life, with sober judgement as Paul reminds us. Where and how do you use your time, your talents and your treasure? If you truly want to know what is important in your life, look at your life. Do not simply think that by saying your faith life is most important, that it is. The devil has done a great job deceiving us and convincing us of things that are not necessarily true. The devil would have us say that our faith life is most important, then he distracts us into so many other things that we have little or no time for our faith life, but since we have said our faith life is most important, then we rationalize that it is. Again, if you want to know what is most important in your life take the time to recognize where you spend your time, how and for what you use your gifts, talents and abilities and where you spend you treasure, then you will know for sure, what is most important to you.
As Paul encouraged Timothy to stand firm in the faith so I would encourage you to stand firm in your faith. Doctrine is important. What we believe, teach and confess is important. It is the Word of God and the Word of God alone which is able to make us wise for salvation. We are living in a day when people are running after those people who will tell them what they want to hear and we can always find someone who will tell us what we want to hear. You know I cannot simply tell you what you want to hear, but I have been called by God, through you to tell you what God knows you need to hear. And what God wants you to hear is the encouragement to be in the Word, to believe the Word, to make regular and diligent use of the Word which alone is able to make you wise to salvation.
In our Gospel reading, Jesus, through the parable of the widow, encourages us to pray without losing heart. If there is nothing else we might think we can do, it is that we can pray. No one can every stop you from praying, because even if you are not praying out loud, you can always pray in your heart and mind. Jesus encourages us to pray to Him and know that He is indeed just and righteous and he will hear and answer our prayers and we can be sure that His answer will be according to what He knows is best for us.
This morning we have Jacob’s example. Just as Jacob was imperfect, so we are imperfect. Just as Jacob often sinned and placed himself and his faith in himself before God, so we are imperfect and we often have more faith in ourselves than in the Lord. And just as Jacob struggled with the Lord, we struggle with the Lord. Through his struggling with the Lord, the Lord strengthened Jacob for the trials that lay ahead of him. So likewise, as we struggle with the Lord, He strengthens us through our struggles to help us to face the struggles that lay ahead in our own lives. And we have God’s continuing promise that He is with us always, even to the end of the age.
What a great God we have. What a loving God we have. God loves us so much. God created us to love us. God redeemed us because of His love for us, bringing us back into a right relationship with Himself. God gave us life at our conception. God has given us new life through the waters of Holy Baptism. God gives us forgiveness of sins through confession and absolution. God strengthens and keeps us in faith through His Word and His Holy Supper. Although we may suffer from the struggles, the trials and tribulations of this world, God loves us and works out the best for us in any and all circumstances, because of His great love for us.
God loves us so much. God loves you so much. God’s desire is for us that we cling to Him, that we pray to Him, that we trust in Him above all things, including ourselves. God’s desire is that we fear, love and trust in Him above all things so that through our struggles we might be drawn closer to Him and strengthened in our faith. May the Lord so work in your life that you do say, to God be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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